On Reports of People's Commissariats
Об отчетах Наркоматов
Date: 1917-10-25
Source: ru:PSS/v37
Translated by: AI (Claude)

1. Decision of the Council of People's Commissars

To instruct all commissariats to compile within one week a brief report, from two to five printed pages, on their activities since October 25, 1917.

These reports must be compiled in the most popular manner and special attention must be paid to facts about the role of workers' organizations and representatives of the proletariat in administration, to major measures of a socialist character and the struggle to suppress the resistance of the bourgeoisie.

The same is instructed to the All-Russian Extraordinary Commission.

To ask the Presidium of the Central Executive Committee to resolve the same about its activities (especially the Constitution and the results of the Soviets' congresses).

2. Letter to the People's Commissars

29.VIII.1918

I allow myself to express the following wishes on the question of implementing the Council of People's Commissars' resolution of August 29 on reports within a week's time:

In the reports, which must be most popular, it is especially necessary to note:

a) improvement in the position of the masses (wage increases for workers, public school teachers, etc.)

b) participation of workers in administration (personally outstanding workers and workers' organizations, etc.)

c) the same - of the poorest peasants and the assistance of Soviet power in the struggle against the kulaks

d) expropriation of landlords, capitalists, merchants, financiers, etc.

The main task is to show concretely, with facts, how exactly Soviet power has taken definite steps (the first ones) toward socialism.

Written August 29, 1918
First published in 1928 in Lenin Miscellany VIII
Printed from the manuscripts

Note: This document was dated October 25, 1917 in the index, but the content indicates it was written August 29, 1918.